News Worthy week ending March 13, 2020

Construction at the Quay Sarasota now includes a Kolter Group plan to build an 18-story, 150-unit condominium on the southeast corner of the bayfront tract.

If approved, the condo will mark the third project on the site.

The proposed condo will sit on the eastern edge of the 14-acre Quay, beside the roundabout under construction constructed at U.S. 41 and Fruitville Road. Kolter is seeking site plan approval with the city of Sarasota.

Kolter has a contract to purchase a one-acre site from GreenPointe Communities of Jacksonville, which bought the Quay property in late 2014 and is developing a $1 billion “urban village.”

Kolter is now constructing the 73-unit Ritz-Carlton Residences on a 1.9-acre waterfront site. It is adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton hotel and will share amenities.

Also on the Quay site, Lennar Multifamily plans a $150 million project with 240 apartments and about 14,000 square feet of retail and restaurant spacr in a 12-story building on 1.65 acres on US 41.

The 14-acre Quay, in

The entire development is approved for up to 695 dwelling units, 175 hotel rooms, 189,050 square feet of space for shopping and dining uses, and nearly 39,000 square feet of office space in buildings up to 18 stories.

GreenPointe also is restoring the 93-year-old Belle Haven.

Town cancels events in response to COVID-19

To help slow the spread of COVID-19 in its most vulnerable populations, the Town of Longboat Key is canceling all public events with an anticipated large attendance for the next 30 days beginning Friday, March 13.

These actions are designed to slow down and reduce transmission among all age groups. However, current reports and studies display that COVID-19 has a greater severity on citizens over 60 with underlying medical conditions.

The Town of Longboat Key continues to monitor the status of COVID-19 and state-level communications while working with our neighboring counties, the state and local Departments of Health and may update further actions as necessary.

• All large public events held on public property within the Town of Longboat Key

are cancelled starting March 13, through April 12. The following events have

• Two events at the Tennis Center (April 3rd Celebration of Life and the End of Season Party)

• Recreational classes and activities continue with advisories to the participants to exercise preventative measures

Marjorie Sagman passes

Marjorie Coons Sagman, age 94, of Sarasota, Florida passed away Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Marjorie was born March 25, 1925 in New York City, New York to the late Jerome and Marion (nee Barnett) Rothschild. She was a graduate of Mount Holyoke.

Marjorie served as Town Commissioner of Longboat Key. She is survived by her son, Sandy Coons, (Teresa); sister, Doris Asaro and step-daughter, Bonnie Heinz (Stephen). Marjorie is preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph Coons Sr. and by her previous husband, Bernard Sagman. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Coons.

City of Sarasota Declares a Public Health Emergency

The City of Sarasota today declared a public health emergency in the face of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, which includes two presumptive positive cases in Sarasota County. In a release, the city said that all gatherings within the city limits scheduled to occur on or before March 20, 2020, and likely to attract more than 250 persons are strongly advised to cancel. That directive includes all gatherings managed, permitted or supported by city staff. New special events will not be permitted by the city until further notice. City manager Tom Barwin, in consultation with mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch, approved the emergency declaration this morning.

Organizations that choose to proceed with their events within the city should have screening measures in place to prevent people who have been exposed to COVID-19 from entering and to protect the health and safety of attendees, city officials added.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, which is owned and operated by the city, will suspend and reschedule performances through March 31. The Sarasota Farmers Market will also be closed on Saturday, March 14. Residents are also encouraged to contact local venues and organizers to determine the status of their operations.

During the past two weeks, the city says it has also increased its cleaning and sanitizing of public spaces, focusing on doorknobs, handrails and countertops. Hand sanitizer stations are visible and available at city facilities, and a temporary remote work policy has been instituted for city employees.

Sarasota Memorial and Manatee Memorial restrict visitors

Two of the largest hospitals on the Suncoast are restricting visitors in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus and protect vulnerable populations from the pandemic.

Effective Friday at 6 pm, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital no more than two visitors will be allowed per room and no visitors under the age of 13 will be allowed. Anyone with a cough or fever will not be allowed to visit a patient. For patients in isolation, all visitors are restricted and asked to utilize video calling apps.

At Manatee Memorial Hospital, visitation hours have been limited to 12pm-6pm and visitors will be screened before entering. Only two adults per patient, per day will be allowed into the hospital.

Visitors who have had a fever, cough, sore throat or body aches or who have been in contact with someone with these symptoms are asked to not visit Manatee Memorial and instead use a video calling app.

Doctors Hospital of Sarasota and Blake Medical Center are also screening visitors but have not announced any further restrictions at this time.

2020 Sarasota Film Festival Cancelled

Due to the threat of coronavirus, the 2020 Sarasota Film Festival has been postponed, SFF leadership announced today. This year’s event was scheduled to run March 27-April 5. Film festival officials said they will look to reschedule the event at a time “when the public can safely attend large scale-events.”

“We look forward to determining a new vision for this festival at the appropriate time, and supporting our filmmakers in the months to come,” Mark Famiglio, the festival’s chairman and president, said in a release.